Community & Partners Update
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HOME-START GREENWICH COOKERY CLUB
This month we have received funding support from the Royal Borough of Greenwich “Together for Winter Fund” to help us to deliver an enhanced emergency food provision and also to help us to continue to fund our Fuel Bank which we have been supporting families with since November 2020.
As well as enhancing our food provision with cultural foods for our multi-cultural families that we are supporting, we are also running a cookery club for those who opted to take part.
Our cookery club is supplying 30 of our families with recipe cards, ingredients and a tutorial video for 6 weeks so that they can learn some of the delicious recipes from the hot food provision we supplied in partnership with First Choice Caribbean Hut during the first lockdown.
Feedback from parents who haven taken part in week 1 and 2 has been very positive and we have some lovely photos to share:
 
Below is a link to the Cookery Club videos which have been uploaded on Youtube for everyone to access and enjoy the delicious recipes.
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HOME-START GREENWICH ON-SITE CHILDREN CENTRE PROGRAM
With the easing of restrictions we have begun to deliver activities in the Children Centres which are in line with Government guidelines. We have re-introduced onto our programme pre-booked activities for parents with babies (age 0-1) SEND Groups, Health Visiting Services and Midwifery Clinics. From the 17th May, we will introduce sessions for older children. Please note all Children Centre services are to be pre-booked by calling the relevant Centre, the SEND group can be booked via our eventbrite page.
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HOME-START GREENWICH DIGITAL PROGRAM
Our digital programme is a combination of various activities and advice sessions delivered by our Community Partners and staff. The filmed content can be accessed via our YouTube channel and interactive live Zoom sessions can be pre-booked via our Eventbrite page.
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HOME-START GREENWICH OUTDOOR SPACES PROJECT
A big thank you to Meantime Communications for kindly supporting us by helping us put this press release together and distributing it to their network of contacts. Amazing community support from Emma and her team!!
| NEW GROWING PATCH AND FOREST SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT FOR PLUMSTEAD CHILDREN’S CENTRE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS AND GARDENING DONATIONS |
| A new project to develop an outdoor playing space in South East London will help families who have been isolated during lockdown to reconnect with their communities |
Greenwich, London, Thursday 15th April 2021: Green-fingered enthusiasts and gardening donations are needed to help get a Forest School and Growing Patch development off the ground in South East London.
The Plumstead Day Nursery and Children Centre has an outdoor plot ready to develop into a safe playing space, including an area of raised beds to grow vegetables, and is calling for volunteers, as well as building and gardening materials to get the job done.
The Centre, run by charity Home-Start Greenwich, supports families that often live in inadequate housing with little or no outdoor spaces in an area of London, which has minimal access to outdoor public facilities and a large number of poorly-maintained spaces.
“We are committed to encouraging runner beans, not couch potatoes,” said Lisa Melloy, Head of Early Years at Home-Start Greenwich.
“We want to give our families access to an interesting, challenging environment, where it is safe to explore and develop life skills, as well as promoting teamwork and cross-generational and community collaboration.
“We will be providing opportunities for families to engage in outdoor activities together, particularly supporting those who have been isolated during lockdown.”
A volunteer leader to develop the 350 sq metre site has been recruited but there is a need for ad-hoc labour support to get going and the team is eager to start as soon as possible and take advantage of the growing season.
All that is required from volunteers is goodwill and a pair of gardening gloves.
Donations needed include mud kitchens, planters, containers, utensils, compost, garden tools, plants, and seeds in addition to funds required for structural changes to provide a water source for maintenance and play.
Forest school is an approach to learning that takes children into the outdoors whatever the weather to explore the natural environment and develop confidence, self-esteem, imagination and physical ability as they are allowed to test their limits in the natural world.
Children will plant and grow vegetables in the raised beds, helping to teach them about healthy eating, as well as giving them an understanding of where their food comes from.
“The pandemic and recession are putting emotional and financial pressure on everyone and many families are feeling isolated,” said Lisa.
“We will be making good practical use of this outdoor space and teaching children to work as a team in a natural setting and bond as a group.
“We will be promoting physical fitness and emotional and mental well-being at a time when many families are in need of support.”
The initial phase is expected to take a few days of work and then volunteers to help out for a total of one to two hours per week for long-term maintenance.
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/homestart-greenwich-fundraiser-for-outdoor-space
To volunteer, visit: https://form.jotform.com/211025385306043
More at meantime.global
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| Picture caption: The outdoor plot will be developed into a Forest School and Growing Patch to help educate children by growing nutritious food, developing their social skills, and interacting closely with nature. |
About Home-Start Greenwich
Home-Start Greenwich is an independent charity affiliated to Home-start UK that has been offering support and helping families with young children in the Royal Borough of Greenwich for over 25 years.
They have two Ofsted registered nursery settings supporting parents with quality childcare jointly providing 96 places for children 0 to 5 in the Plumstead area.
Home-Start Greenwich’s services are complemented by partnership work with Royal Greenwich delivering children centre services from seven settings.
Visit: homestartgreenwich.org.uk
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Office hours
9.00 to 17.00 LON time
Out of hours contact
Emma Murray
+44 (0) 7711 614 655 |
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